A JEALOUS thug repeatedly bit and strangled his partner, leaving her unconscious.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 33-year-old Kieran Byrne regularly drank two litres of vodka a night as well as taking cocaine and would bite, kick and punch his girlfriend when in a rage.

Clair Larton, prosecuting, told the court that the pair met in January 2019, but the relationship quickly deteriorated when they moved in together four months later.

“It became very difficult and there were arguments, particularly about his drinking,” said Miss Larton.

The court heard the first assault occurred on September 29 that year when the woman went out for the evening to a salon opening with friends but Byrne called her, demanding she return home and threatening to kill her.

When she did go back he punched her in the face and stabbed her in the hand with a bottle opener before strangling her. The woman lost consciousness during the attack and came round to find police there who had been called by worried neighbours.

Judge Tom Gilbart heard how the woman refused to make a complaint to police, but the following month, on October 4, she was with Byrne at the Crofter’s pub when he began shouting abuse at her, accusing her of being unfaithful.

He then apologised, but as he hugged her, he whispered an insult in her ear and bit her cheek, only letting go when bar staff intervened.

“The use of teeth as a weapon is a savage way to assault someone,” Judge Gilbart told Byrne.

“It is animalistic and you did this in full view of other people in the pub.”

The pair separated and she went to live with her mother, but in the early hours of October 9 he drove to the house, repeatedly sounding his horn and refusing to speak to her until she came outside.

But when she did, he again attacked her, scratching her face with a key and biting her lip.

The pair eventually reconciled and, in July last year, went for a weekend to the Haven holiday park at Blackpool.

While at a bar Bynre became drunk and his partner noticed he had been messaging other women on his phone, who had been sending him naked photographs.

She tried to run away but was caught and when they returned to their room he launched another attack on her, repeatedly kicking her in the head and body until she lost consciousness.

“She woke to the sight of blood on the floor and when Mr Byrne realised she was again conscious, he resumed the assault,” said Miss Larton.

He later dragged her into the shower to wash off the blood and, after she begged him, took her to hospital where she needed treatment for a swollen jaw and cheek and cut head.

Byrne lied to medics about what had happened, claiming she he been assaulted by a group of girls in the town and the woman told her own family that she had been hit by a car.

The court heard that Byrne was recalled to prison in January after breaching the terms of a sentence for another offence and, while there, sent his former partner threatening messages.

Judge Gilbart was told that Byrne’s behaviour has left her anxious, paranoid and depressed and unable to trust men.

Bynre, of Royal Court Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, three counts of assault and sending a malicious communication.

Michael Blakey, defending, said: “The defendant lays his cards on the table. There is no excuse for what he did.”

He added that Byrne has a quick temper, particularly when drinking, and his lifestyle has resulted in him losing contact with his children.

But he stressed that Byrne now recognises his problems and wants to take steps to change.

Judge Gilbart told Byrne that his offending was so serious that only a jail sentence is appropriate.

He was sentenced to two years in prison and a restraining order was made banning him from contacting his victim.